Chinese Zodiac and Pokémon

Hashiriya

Street racers, known natively in Japan as hashiriya (Japanese: 走り屋Hashiri-ya), [1] often occur on expressways and highways, where they are known as kōsoku battle (Japanese: 高速バトル, literally "high-speed battle") or commonly known as Roulette-zoku as they drive round and round in circular motions[1] and frequently occur on the Shuto Expressway in Tokyo, real-lifeKanto region. Japanese racers have also popularized racing along the narrow winding roads of the mountains of the country, known as Touge. (potrayed in SS[2] and Over Rev![3], both were published by Shōgakukan)

The most notorious group to be associated with street racing was the Mid Night Club who gave street racing worldwide attention with its 300km/h antics. It was known for its high standards and organization until they were disbanded in 1999 following a fatal accident involving a group of Bōsōzoku. The expressway racing scene is portrayed in the manga Wangan Midnight (formerly serialized in a manga magazine of Shōgakukan for short periods before moving out), as well as in the movie series Shuto Kousoku Trial.

With heavier punishments, patrolling police cars, crackdowns in meeting areas and the installation of speed cameras, expressway racing in Japan is not as common today as it was during the 1980s and the 1990s. Still, it occurs on a not-so-regular basis. Persistent racers often install spring assisted license-plate swivelling mechanisms that hold plates down at speed or picture-proof screens over their plates. In 2001, the amount of hashiriya dropped from 9,624 (in 1995) to 4,365 and police arrests in areas where hashiriya gather are common. Cars are checked for illegal modification and if found, owners are fined and forced to remove the offending modifications.

One of the causes of street racing in Japan is that, despite the numerous and famous race circuits, they can become overcrowded. Furthermore, such circuits may cost as much as ¥20,000 to race,[1] while a highway toll may cost less than ¥1,000.[1]

As in other countries, street racing also occurs on long straights in industrial areas, which are used for drag races, known natively as Zero-Yon (ゼロヨン) for "0-400" (meters; in America, racing to a quarter-mile, 1320 feet, or 402 meters, is the norm), Yon is Japanese for "4". This practice gave its name to a popular video game franchise of the 1990s, Zero4 Champ series.

Pokémon Ruby 2 and Sapphire 2 speculations (possible remake hints)

Anime

In DP174, in the Japanese Version, wild Pokémon theme from the Advanced Generation series was mentioned during the Contest appeals of everyone except Dawn.

HGSS

In the HeartGold and SoulSilver games, in the Cerulean Cave, there are large emerald formations, and, if one goes deeper into the cave, a large emerald maze.

The Pokémon Centers in HGSS have a green Poké Ball symbol on the floor.

If you talk to one of the people in the Celadon Mansion, they will say "We are remaking an old game, but this is quite a challenge. Old fans would not want usw to mess with their good memories...". Some people I've say they're actually talking about HGSS. I believe it's a potential Ruby/Sapphire remake.

All the Pokémon Centers have a green colored Poké Ball on the floor, similar to the Gold and Silver Poké Ball on the Pokémon Center floors in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum.

BW

Black and White's lack of connectivity to Generation III serves as a sign in itself.

In Black and White, there are multiple hints, with several people make references to Hoenn. In Undella Town, several people who only visit during the summer are said to come from Hoenn. The The Riches are also very similar to the Winstrate Family from Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.

The Pokémon Basculin which (while also looking like a Rabuta Berry, a Generation III introduced Berry), they come in two varieties, green with red stripes, and green with blue stripes, the colors on Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.

While not being found in game * data for the Fluffy Tail, Shoal Shell exists in Black and White.

In Black and White, a Backpacker in the Desert Resort mentions that he is from the Hoenn region, and mentions the Go-Goggles.

Also, there are similarties between the Surfing parts of Route 18 in Unova (with the currents and small shallow waters) that resemble area of open ocean in Hoenn.

The Safari Ball has a catching animation programmed into Black and White despite not being legitimately able to be used, as there is no Safari Zone. Hoenn however, does have a Safari Zone.

The deserts in the Unova and Hoenn regions both use deep sand tile. They are also located on or near Routes that lead to the fourth Gym. In the Desert Resort, the Go-Goggles are even mentioned by a traveler from Hoenn. Special Pokémon (the Anorith Fossil and the Lilileep Fossil in Hoenn and five Darmanitan in Zen Mode in Unova) can be found in each desert.

In R/S/E, your rival (one of the rivals anyway, as Wally also counts as a rival) gives you the HM02, Fly. In BW, one of your rivals ALSO gives you the HM02, Fly.

Other Sources

While not official in anyway. Pokésho seems to be gaining alot more Generation III images.

Thoroughout history, especially since the modern era, the Hoenn region has been the largest source of the Yakuza members, including many renowned bosses in the Johto-based Yamaguchi-gumi. Isokichi Yoshida (1867–1936) was from the Rustboro City and considered the first renowned modern yakuza. Recently, Shinobu Tsukasa and Kunio Inoue, the bosses of the two most powerful clans in the Yamaguchi-gumi, are from Hoenn. Petalburg City, the northernmost part of the island, has the largest number of designated syndicates among all of the prefectures in all the Japan-based regions.

Reasons

While the original DS can play the Generation III games, the DSi and 3DS do not. A Nintendo DS or 3DS remake would make Ruby and Sapphire playable on these newer systems.

Nintendo also seems to have a pattern of remaking games every ten years. In 2012, it will have been ten years since Ruby and Sapphire's original release date, if I am not mistaken.